Spherical container for storing fluids, such as gas and liquids



May 2, 1939. w PECHSTEIN I 2,156,400

SPHERICAL CONTAINER FOR STORING .FLUIDS, SUCH AS GAS AND LIQUIDS 4 Filed Nov. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 inventor:

May 2, 1939. 2,156,400

SPHERIQAL CONTAINER FOR 510mm FLUIDS, sucn AS GAS AND LIQUIDS W. PECHSTEIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 13, 1937 Patented May 2,' 1939 UNITED STATES SPHERJCAL CONTAINER FOB STORING FLUIDS, SUCH AS GAS AND LIQUIDS Walter Pechstein, Dortmund, Germany, assignor to the firm Aug. Kliinne,

many

Dortmund, -Ger- Application November 13,1937, Serial No. 174,444

In Germany May 20, 1937 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a spherical container for storing fluids, such as gas and liquids under high pressure having supports and inside a framework adapted to transfer the forces produced by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container upon said supports.

This invention is characterised by a foundation, at least three supports adapted to transmit the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container upon the said foundation, lower struts engaging with their ends the points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supports and forming together at least one lower polygonal frame, upper struts fixedly connected at both ends to the inner wall of said container at points lying in the horizontal middle portion of the spherical container and forming together at least one upper polygonal frame and inclined o struts connecting the corner-points of said upper and lower polygonal frames, whereby a selfsupporting frame work is formed which is adapted to transfer the loads due to the dead weight and weight of the charge of the container directly upon said supports without substantially stressing the walls of the container.

The support at the equator is especially useful where a gas is to be stored which becomes'liquid at a definite pressure. In this case, where the vertical loads are a multiple of the dead weight of the vessel, only the interior over-pressure determines the thickness of the sheet iron wall rather than the stress at a definite point due to dead weight and liquid charge.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings,

showing by way of example and schematically an embodiment of the invention, viz- Figure 1 is a scheme of a spheribal container.

in a vertical section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line A-A of Figure 1, the frame structure being partly omitted.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line A-A of Figure 1, showing the part of the frame structure mitted in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section same as Figure 1,

but showing more constructional details than- 5 Figure 1. I

Figure 5 is a' horizontal section on line 11-11 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 3, it will be seen that the vertical 55 forces caused by the dead weight of the wall I of the spherical container and by the weight of the charge or contents are transferred from the horizontal equator A-A through the members 2, 3 and 4 of the frame work or supporting structure and the supports or columns 5 upon the foundation 6.

The six upper working points of the stripshaped members 3 are connected by an upper frame 2 representing two triangles (Figure 2 The six lower working points of the members 3 10 are connected by a lower frame 4 also representing two triangles (Figure 3). At the six lower working points the members 3 or the frame 4 rest directly on the supports 5.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 the arrangement 18 is the same as in Figures 1 to 3, but some of the constructional details have been shown and more reference numerals have been used which have been omitted in Figures 1 to 3 for the sake of clarity. According to Figure 4, the spherical con- 29 tainer a rests on columns b and foundation blocks 0. In the present instance, 6 columns and 6 foundatio-n blocks have been provided, the actual number depending on the size and weight of the container and its contents.

In the interior of the container, directly above the columns I), three gussets d and three gussets e are provided in an alternating and symmetrical order. These gusset joint plates may or may not be connected to the wall a. of the container, for 30 instance by welding or rivets. The three gusset joints d are connected by two angle irons or L- irons I each and the gusset joints e are connected by two angle irons g each.

Each gusset joint d is connected, by two angle 35 irons h, to three further gusset joints i which are welded or otherwise attached to the wall of the container a at the horizontal equator thereof. The gusset joints 2' are connected with each other by angle irons k. 40

Each gusset joint e is connected, by two angle irons l, to three gusset joints m, which are symmetrically arranged betweenthe gusset joints i and welded or otherwise connected to the wall of the container 0., also at the horizontal equator 46 thereof. The gusset joints m are connected with each other by angle irons n. g

It will be understood that the angle irons f, g, h, la, 1, 11. form a self-supporting structure which is capable of transmitting the vertical forces pro- 50 duced by the-dead weight and charge of the container 0., upon the columns b and foundation blocks c, thus relieving the wall a of the container from these forces or stresses.

In addition, angle irons pmay be welded or' otherwise connected to the outer wall of the container at the horizontal equator thereof and T-irons may be mounted thereon. The ringso formed may serve for receiving any additional outer structure or mountings the forces of which are to be transmitted directly through the inner structure f, g, h, k, l, n, without stressing the Y wall of the container. Also, the ring or ring portions p, 0, may serve for lifting the container.

The'top end of the container may be provided with an opening q and collar 1', in the manner known per se.

While I have herein shown and described oertain preferred embodiments of my invention, I

wish it to be understood that, I do not confine myself to all the precise details herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a spherical container adapted to receive compressed fluids, a foundation, at least three supports adapted to transmit the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container upon the said foundation, lower struts engaging with their ends the points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supports and forming together at least one lower polygonal frame, upper struts fixedly connected at both ends to the inner wall of said container at points 1ying in the horizontal middle portion of the spherical container and forming together. at least one upper polygonal frame and inclined struts connecting the corner points of said upper and lower polygonal frames, whereby a self-supporting frame work-is formed which is adapted to transfer the loadsdue to the dead weight and weight of the charge of the container directly upon said .supports without substantially stressing the walls of the container.

2. In combination, a spherical container adapted to receive compressed fluids, at least three supports adapted to receive the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container, lower struts connected at both ends to points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supports and forming together at least one lower polygonal frame, upper struts fixedly connected at both ends to the inner wall of said container at points lying substantially in the horizontal equator of the. spherical container and forming together at least one upper polygonal frame and inclined struts connecting the corner points of said upper and lower polygonal frames, whereby a static system is formed which is adapted to transfer the loads due to the dead weight and weight of I do the charge of the container directly upon said supports without substantially stressing the walls of the container.

3. In combination, a spherical container adapted to receive compressed fluids, supporting means underneath said container and adapted to receive the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container, lower joint members arranged at the points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supporting means, upper joint members arranged at the inner wall of said container at points lying substantially in the horizontal equator of the spherical container, strip-shaped members connecting said lower joint members with each other, strip-shaped members connecting said upper joint members with each other and strip-shaped members connecting said upper and lower joint members, said strip-shaped members forming together a self-supporting frame work which is adapted to transfer the loads due to the dead weight and weight of the charge of the container directly upon said supporting means without substantially stressing the wall of the container.

4. In combination, a spherical container adapted to receive compressed fluids, a plurality of supports adapted to receive the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container, a number of lower gussets fixedly mounted at the points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supports, an equal number of upper gussets fix edly mounted at the inner wall of said container at a point lying substantially in the horizontal equator of the spherical container, one upper gusset each coordinated to one lower gusset, lower connecting said upper gussets and inclined struts connecting each upper gusset with its coordinated lower gusset, said struts forming together a selfsupporting frame work which is adapted to transfer the loads due to the dead weight and weight of the charge of the container'directly upon said supports without substantially stressing the walls of the container.

5. In combination, a spherical container adapted to receive compressed fluids, a plurality of foundation blocks, supports adapted to transmit the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container upon the said foundation blocks, a number of lower gussets fixedly mounted at the points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supports, an equal number of upper gussets flxedly mounted at the inner wall of said container at a point lying substantially in the horizontal equator of the spherical container one tal struts connecting said lower gussets, upper horizontal struts connecting said upper gussets, and inclined struts connecting each upper gusset with its coordinated lower gusset, said struts forming together a self-supporting frame work which is adapted to transfer the loads due to the dead weight and weight of the charge of the container directly upon said supports without substantially stressing the wall of the container.

6. In combination, a spherical container adapted to receive compressed fluids, a foundation, six symmetrically arranged supports adapted to transmit the forces exerted by the dead weight and the weight of the charge of the container upon the said foundation, six lower gussets fixedly mounted at the points of the inner wall of said container where the container rests on the said supports, six upper gussets fixedly mounted at the inner wall of said container-at a point lying substantially in the horizontal equator of the spherical container one upper gusset each coordinated to one lower gusset and lying in vertical equators passing through the said coordinated lower gusset, lower horizontal struts connecting three of thelower gussets which form a symmetrical triangle, further horizontal struts connecting the three lower gussets intermediate said three first mentioned lower gussets, upper horizontal struts connecting three of the upper gussets which form a symmetrical triangle, further horizontal struts connecting the three upper gussets intermediate said three first mentioned upper gussets, and inclined struts connecting each upper gusset with its coordinated lower gusset, said 5 struts forming together a self-supporting frame work which is adapted to transfer the loads due to the dead weight and the charge of the con- WALTER PECHSTEIN. 

